# Anyone Wanna Translate Some French? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 17, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-wanna-translate-some-french/510449 "2009-09-17T14:54:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-wanna-translate-some-french/510449/1 "2009-09-17T14:54:29Z")
It would considerably add to my enjoyment of [this song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQs7ApmXeCI). The lyrics are right there on the page, so you don’t have to listen to the song if you don’t want to. _Merci!_ ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-wanna-translate-some-french/510449/2 "2009-09-17T15:51:07Z")
Is there a particular reason why the [English version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuBNLsvNntw) of the song won’t do? (Link goes to YouTube.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-wanna-translate-some-french/510449/3 "2009-09-17T16:13:29Z")
> [@xnylder](#): > > Is there a particular reason why the [English version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuBNLsvNntw) of the song won’t do? (Link goes to YouTube.) The lyrics are not exactly the same in the two languages, though they are similar. I didn’t see the lyrics in your link but I assume it’s the same as [here](http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/les_miserables_original_broadway_cast_recording_soundtrack/rouge_et_noir-lyrics-64058.html)? I don’t think I can manage a good translation in the next 7 minutes but if no one else has done it by this afternoon I’ll give it a go later. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-wanna-translate-some-french/510449/4 "2009-09-17T16:15:32Z")
(Marius) _L’ai-je au moins jamais vue, cette douce inconnue Ou n’est elle qu’un songe vain comme les mensonges de l’histoire Ne l’ai-je pas rêvée comme cet idéal Qui ferait qu’enfin l’homme échappe à l’animal Qu’il soit enfin lui-même et vive son poème_ Have I ever really seen this sweet stranger Or is she merely a futile dream, like history’s lies ? Didn’t I dream her up, as I did this ideal That would let Man finally escape the beastly, Finally be himself and live his poem ? > [@](#): > > Rouge, le peuple est en colère > Noire, l’espérance de la terre > Rouge, mon sang tourne à l’envers > Noir, mon coeur est en misère > Sans elle, loin d’elle, malade d’elle Red, the people are angry Black, the hope of the Earth Red, my blood is flowing the wrong way 'round Black, my heart is miserable Without her, far from her, (love)sick of her > [@](#): > > Elle venait au jardin tous les après-midis > Le temps d’une ou deux heures illuminait ma vie sans bonheur > Mais elle a disparu, mon courage avec elle > Je n’ai jamais rien su, je ne sais plus rien d’elle > Et plus quoi faire de moi que mourir au combat She would come to the garden every afternoon And for one or two hours, she’d illuminate my mirthless life But she disappeared, and with her my courage I never knew anything, I don’t know anything about her anymore What else can I do, but die in combat ? > [@](#): > > Rouge, le peuple est en colère > Noir, mon coeur est en misère > Rouge, mon sang tourne à l’envers > Noir, mon amour désespoir Red, the people are angry Black, my heart is miserable Red, my blood flows the wrong way around Black, my love is despair (Combeferre) > [@](#): > > Allons, Marius, tu exagères > L’amour fait souvent des manières > Mais il ne t’abandonnera pas > Il sait bien que tu es sincère > Il exaucera ta prière > Et demain tu la retrouveras Come on, Marius, you exaggerate Love might often be fickle But it won’t abandon you It knows well how sincere you are It will grant your prayer And tomorrow, you’ll find her again ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-wanna-translate-some-french/510449/5 "2009-09-17T17:12:58Z")
> [@xnylder](#): > > Is there a particular reason why the [English version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuBNLsvNntw) of the song won’t do? (Link goes to YouTube.) What **Dr. Drake** said. Thanks **Kobal2**!